Once upon a time, in a cozy green forest, lived a very little tree named Timmy. Timmy wasn't like the other trees. They were tall and strong, and they barely moved even when the wind blew. Timmy, though, was small and wobbly, and he worried *so* much about falling over!
Every time the wind started to whisper through the leaves, Timmy would hold on tight, trying not to bend. He’d squeeze his roots into the ground and stiffen his branches. “I must not move!” he’d tell himself. “If I move, I’ll fall down!”
Old Man Willow, the wisest tree in the forest, noticed Timmy’s worry. He creaked a gentle hello. “Little Timmy,” he said, “why do you fight the wind so? It’s a part of life, just like sunshine and rain.”
“But I’m scared I’ll fall!” Timmy squeaked. “The other trees stand so still, and I wobble and shake.”
Old Man Willow chuckled, a sound like rustling leaves. “Ah, but Timmy, the other trees are much bigger and stronger. You are still growing! And wobbling and shaking isn’t falling. It’s *swaying*. It’s learning to dance with the wind.”
He explained, “When the wind blows, the trees that bend are the ones that stay standing. The ones that resist break.”
Timmy thought about this. It sounded scary, but also…kind of nice. He took a deep breath as a gentle breeze tickled his leaves. He tried to relax, and instead of stiffening, he let his branches sway.
It felt strange at first, but then…it felt *good*! He wasn’t fighting the wind anymore; he was moving *with* it. He swayed and dipped and twirled, feeling lighter and happier than he ever had before.
The wind blew a little harder, and Timmy swayed even more. He didn’t fall! He just danced! He laughed, a sound like the tinkling of tiny bells.
From that day on, Timmy wasn’t afraid of the wind anymore. He learned that being flexible and brave was much better than being stiff and scared. He learned to love his wobbly, swaying dance, and he grew taller and stronger with every breeze.
And as the sun set, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Timmy swayed gently, dreaming of all the wonderful dances the wind would bring. He knew, even when things were a little scary, he could always find a way to sway and be strong.